Provincial Commissioner, Lt Gen Nomthetheleli Mene commended the investigating officer for his exceptional dedication and unwavering commitment to ensuring that justice was meted out to a rapist for his heinous acts committed in March 2016 in Nemato.
On 4 March 2016 at 00:30, the 20-year-old victim and her boyfriend were walking in Runeli Drive, Nemato, when they noticed a group of males sitting outside a shop.
After passing the shop, they noticed the males following them.
They were blocked off by the males, threatened with a knife and robbed of their cellphones.
The woman was dragged to a corner where she was gang raped.
After raping her, her boyfriend was forced to have sex with her as well.
The suspects then left with their phones.
As the investigation unfolded, one of the accused Sinovuyo Majiyane Funde, 26 years old was linked through DNA analysis.
Information emerged that at the time of his arrest, he was already serving a life sentence plus 20 years imprisonment on another unrelated rape committed in Nemato in November 2016 where two females, one a minor was raped.
In this case, Funde and his co-accused Nkosikana Sandi (25) were sentenced in the Makhanda High court in May 2023.
On Friday, 21 July 2023, Funde was once again sentenced in the Makhanda High court to two life term imprisonment for rape and attempted compelled rape as well as 15 years for aggravated robbery.
The other suspects were never arrested.
In both cases, the investigating officer was D/W/O Peterson Luzuko Kanzi from the Port Alfred Family Violence Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit.
Lt Gen Mene applauded the excellent sentencing and added that, “This achievement stands as a testament to the remarkable skills and experience as an investigating officer and his relentless pursuit of justice for the victims. Such sentences brings a beacon of hope and security to victims of gender based violence and sends a clear message that such reprehensible acts will not go unpunished. The accused is now locked away for a very long time and justice has been served. Well done to D/W/O Kanzi and the prosecuting authority for ensuring such a strong case against the rapist, leaving no room for doubt or leniency.”
